Machine for coating confectionery.



No. 634,633. Patented Oct. I0, I899.

- W. H. WEEKS.

MACHINE FOR GOATI NG CONFECTIONERY (Applicltion filed July 3" 1899.) I (No Modei.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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i ATTORNEY No. 634,633. Patented Uct. l0, I899.

W. H. WEEKS.

MACHINE 'FORGDATING GUNFEIJTIONERY.

A limicn filed July 3, 1899.\ (No Model.) 4 SheetsS heet 2.

WITNESSES m: scams PEYERS co. PmTa-uma. wunmm'uu; u. c.

v Patented Oct. I0, I899. I W. H. WEEKS. I MACHINE FOR COATING CONFECTION ERY.

' (Application fllqd July 3, 1898.) I I (In Modal.) f 4 Sheets-Shest 3.

W-ITNESSES mi INVENTOR ATTORNEY Ya: mum: mm 00, moraLrmou wumnarou. n. a

UNITED STAT S" PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. WEEKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR COATING KCONFECTIONERY.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 634,633, dated October 10, 1899. Application filed July 3, 1899. Serial No. 722,680. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. WEEKs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Coating Confectionery, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of machines whereby confections, such as cream-drops, are coated with liquid chocolate or other material, my improvements, as generally stated, comprising a novel construction of receptacle in which the coating material is maintained at the proper. degree of consistency, means for agitating the liquid contents of said receptacle, means for supporting and operating the dipping-tray and the guard-screen therefor relatively to each other and to the receptacle, and means tray for the purpose of removing superfluous coating from the contents of the tray, together with various novel features of construction and organization of parts that will be hereinafter particularly described/and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevationof the machine. Fig, 2 is a plan thereof. Fig. 2 is a detail of clutch. Fig. 3 is a ver-v tical section, as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line at 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is'a detail of dipping-tray.

A A are two uprights or end frames upon which is supported a vessel B, preferably semicirculaiy'or substantially so, in cross-section, provided with a jacket I), to which steam and hot water are introduced by laterallyperforated pipes 73', whereby the liquid contents (such as chocolate) of the vessel may be maintained at a proper degree of consistency. Extending from the forward side of the vessel and leading thereinto is an inclined drip-pan B, which constitutes, in efiect, a

continuation of said vessel, being similarly provided with a steam-and-water jacket 5 which communicates with that of the vessel.

Suspendedfrom bearings cat the respective ends of the vessel is a rock frame G, which is adapted to swing withinthe vessel, and thereby agitate and intimately mix the con the composition.

for supporting and jarring said tents thereof. This frame comprises radial end bars 6, connected at their lower extremities by longitudinal rails and end segments 0 The rails are preferably provided on their upper edges with studs or projections 0 which serve still more effectually to agitate and-mix One end of the frame is. connected by means of a rod or pitman c with an eccentric c on the main driving-shaft D, whereby the requisite oscillations of the frame are effected.

,Fittedto uprights eon-the ends of the vessel is a vertically-reciprocati11g cross-head E, whichis connected by means of rods e with sprocket-wheels e on the respective ends of a shaft. a that is journaled directly beneath thevessel in bearings in the end frames. These wheels are connected by sprocketchains e with wheels e on a counter-shaft c and the latter shaft in turn is geared with the main shaft and adapted to be driven thereby at predetermined intervals. In the present instancea sprocket-wheel e is loosely mounted on the counter-shaft andconnected by means of a chain c with a similar Wheel e 9, fast on the main shaft. The shaft 2 is provided with a clutch member a, which may be moved into and out of engagement with a correspondingmemb'er on the hub of the wheel 6 so as to render the latter fast or loose on its shaft, as desired. Normally the clutch member e is held in engagement with that on the sprocket-wheel e by. means of "a suitably-disposed spying e Connected with this spring-controlled clutch member is one arm of a lever 6 which is fulcrumed on an adjacent bracket e, the other arm of the lever being connected by means of a link 6 with a bell-crank lever 6 on said bracket. Depending from the crank-lever is a 'rod 6 3, the lower end of which lies adjacent to the inner face of one of the sprocket-wheels 6 which face is provided with a suitably-disposed lug or projection e, that is designed in each turn of the wheel to abut against the lower end of the rod and raise the same, thus disengaging the clutch from the sprocketwheel. The clutch will remain thus disengaged until the rod is freed from the lug or projection by the attendant. A forwardlyextending hand-bar e connected -with the rod, affords a convenient means'whereby the "the operation of the cross-head.

rod may be readily disengaged from the saidv lug or projection. It will be observed that the shafts D and e have their bearings in parallel cross-bars e supported by the uprights 6, above referred to.

On each end of the cross-head E are depending rods F, which are connected at their lower ends by a cross-bar f, from which in turn depends a series of parallel rods f, having their lower or free ends turned inward to constitute'hooks. During the reciprocation of the cross-head these hooks are lowered into and lifted from the interior of the vessel.

F is a rectangular tray adapted to be detachably supported upon the hooked ends of the rods, and thereby lowered into and raised from the vessel. This tray is provided with open wire compartments f, in which are deposited the creams or other substance to be coated with the liquid contents of the vessel.

G is a screen which is arranged above the tray and is movable upon and from the latter during the operation of the machine, the function of the screen being to prevent displacement of the creams, 850., in the tray when the tray is dipped into the composition in the vessel. This screen is carried by the lower ends of vertical rods g, that are guided loosely in the cross-head. The upper ends of these rods are connected by links 9 with the inner arms of trip-levers g that are fulcrumed at the respective ends of the cross-head. 1n the path of the outer arms of the levers are rollers 9 which are so disposed that in the upward stroke of the cross-head the said arms will abut against them, and thus raise the screen from the underlying frame, whereas in the downstroke of the cross-head the rollers will prevent the independent dropping by gravity of the screen upon the tray. These rollers are journaled in depending brackets e affixed to the cross-bars e At or about the end of each upward stroke of the cross-head the lug or projection c on the sprocket-wheel e abuts against the opposing end of the clutchcontrolling rod 6 and effects thereby the inaction of the counter-shaft, thus arresting The tray, with its coated contents, is then moved by the attendant onto an adjacent jarring-frame II,

which is disposed directly above the drip-pan i, above referred to. This frame comprises horizontal guides 71., (such as an gle-irons,) supported upon parallel bars 71/ on the upper ends of vertically re ciprocative rods 7L2. These rods are fitted to guide-brackets h on the side frames and maintained yieldingly elevated by spiral springs h, which, encircling the rods, bear upon the said brackets and against collars Won the rods,respectively. On the lower extremities of these rods are shoes h, below which are disposed toothed wheels 7L7 on a shaft h On one end of this shaft is a small pulley 7t", which is belted with a larger pulley h on the main shaft and adapted to be driven thereby at a high rate of speed. It will thus be seen that if the rods be depressed against the action of their springs into engagement with the teeth of the rapidlyrevolving toothed wheels said rods and their connect-ions will be rapidly vibrated. The

weight of the tray, with its contents, is sufres ondin increase in the jarrin action will p b a result.

Onthe bars 7t, forwardly of the guides 7b, are corresponding guides h, onto which the tray, with its contents, is shifted by hand when the jarring operation has been completed, said latter guides being provided with inwardly-extending lips 72, which take against the upper edges of the tray and maintain it in place. The guides it are centrally pivoted, as at h so that they and the tray may be bodily turned or inverted. Preparatory to the removal of the contents of the tray a sheet of waxed paper or the like is laid upon the latter and a pan imposed thereon. The tray and pan are then inverted, thus depositing in the pan the contents of the tray. The guides h are then returned to their original position and the tray removed therefrom for a subsequent operation.

I preferably arrange directly above the screen a coil of pipe 9 through which steam and hot water are circulated for the purpose of keeping the screen hot, and thus preventing the hardening of the chocolate, &c., on the latter. This pipe is supported by suitable brackets g rising from the end frames of the machine. I also preferably impose upon or over this pipe a sheet of asbestos g,

' so as to direct the heat down upon the screen.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The vessel 13 is supplied with chocolate and the same maintained in proper condition through the agency of the steam and water coursing through the pipes 1). Assuming the cross-head E with its depending tray-supporting rods to be elevated above the vessel and the spring-controlled clutch member 6 to be held disengaged from the corresponding member on the hub of the wheel 6 through the action on the rod 6 of the lug or projection e on the proximate sprocket-wheel 6 power is applied to the main driving-shaft and transmitted therefrom to the shaft h carrying the toothed wheels 7%, thereby rapidly revolving the latter. There being no load or tray upon the jarring-frame H the latter is maintained yieldingly elevated and out of engagement with the wheels W. The screen is held some distance above the lower or hooked ends of the tray-supporting rods through the engagement with the opposing rollers g of the triplevers g that are linked with the vertical rods g, by which said screen is suspended, and the rock-frame is swung to and fro within the vessel through the eccentric and rod connection with the main shaft, so as to agitate the liquid contents of the vessel. A tray, such as F, provided with the creams or other substance to be coated is set by an attendant upon the elevated tray-supporting rods. An-

other attendant then operates the hand-bar a so as to disengage the rod 6 from the lug or projection e on the sprocket-Wheel e ,thereby permitting the clutch member 6 to resume its normal position in engagement with that on the hub of wheel a, and thereby lock the lat ter to its shaft e whereby this shaft is driven by the sprocket-gearing from the main shaft. In consequence the shaft 6 below the vessel is driven through the sprocket-gearing e c and c and the cross-head is lowered through its connection by the rods 2 withthe wheels 6 The filled tray upon the tray-support ing rods on said head is thus lowered into the contents of the vessel and coated thereby. As the rotation of the shaft e continues the cross-head and therewith the tray, with its coated contents, are raised above the vessel. Asthe cross-head reaches its uppermost position the lug e on the sprocket-wheel e abuts against the opposing end of the-rod e and raises the same, thereby'eifectin g the release of the clutch device on the counter-shaft and rendering the latter quiescent, as above described. During the ascent'of the crosshead the outer arms of the trip-levers g abut against the opposing rollers 9 thereby lifting the rods g, and perforce raising the screen from the tray. An attendant then shifts the tray, with its coated contents, onto the horizontal guides h of the jarringframe H, whereupon the latter is depressed against the compression of the springs k and the shoes k of said frame moved into engagement with the teeth of therapidly-revolvin g wheels h7,thereby, as above explained, jarring the frame and tray and shaking therefrom the superfluous coating, the excess dropping into the drip-pan and running into the main receptacle. The tray, with its contents, is then shifted onto the pivoted guides h and the coated contents deposited in a pan and the tray removed for a subsequent operation, as above explained.

I claim 1. In a coating-machine, the combination, with the liquid-containing receptacle, provided with an inclined drip-pan leading thereto, of a dipping-tray support, means for lowering it into and raising it from said receptacle, a tray-support arranged over the said drip-pan, and means for jarring said latter support.

2. In a coating-machine, the combination,

with the liquid -containing receptacle pro vided with an inclined drip-pan leading thereto, of a reciprocating cross-head, a series of rods depending at intervals from said crosshead and having at their lower ends inwardlyturned lugs to support a dipping-tray, means for reciprocating said cross-head, a yielding tray -supporting frame arranged over said drip-pan, and jarring devices with which said frame is operatively engaged by a Weight or load on the frame.

3. In a coating-machine, the combination, with the liquid-containing receptacle, provided with an inclined drip-pan leading there- .to, of a reciprocating cross-head, a series of depending hooks connected therewith and adapted to support a clipping-tray,ineans for reciprocating said cross-head, a tray-support arranged over said drip-pan, and means for jarring said latter support.

4. In a coating-machine, the combination, with the liquid-containing receptacle, pro vided with an inclined drip-pan leading thereto, of a dipping-tray support, means for low erin g it into and raisin g it from the said receptacle, a tray-support arranged over said drippan, and means for jarring said latter support, together with a screen,and means where- 'by the same is applied to and removed from said tray at predetermined intervals.

5. In a coating-machine, the combination, with the liquid-containing receptacle, semicircular or substantially so, in cross-section, with an inclined drip-pan leading thereto, of a rock-frame adapted to swing within said receptacle, and agitate the contents thereof, means for supporting said frame, and means for actuating the same, a dipping-tray sup port, means for lowering it into and raising it from said receptacle, a tray-support arranged over the drip-pan, and means for jarring said latter support.

6. In a coating-machine,.the combination, with the liquid-containing receptacle, semicircular or substantially so, in cross-section, with an'inclined drip-pan leading thereto, of a rock-frame adapted to swing within said receptacle and comprising radial end bars con- 'nected at theirlo wer ends by longitudinal rails provided with studs or projections, means for supportingsaid frame, and means for oscil latin g the same, a dipping-tray su pport,means for lowering it into and raising it from said receptacle, a tray-support arranged over the drip-pan, and means for jarring said latter support.

7. In a coating-machine, the combination with ayieldin g supporting-frame for the tray, of jarring devices with which said frame is operatively engaged by a weight or load on the frame.

8. In a coating-machine, the combination with a tray-supporting frame, including side guides, vertical rods, and springs, of toothed wheels-adjacent to said rods, and means for supporting and driving saidwheels, whereby when a weight orload is applied to said frame the vertical rods thereof will be moved into operative engagement with said wheels.

9. In a coating-machine, the combination stance is contained, and means for dipping a tray into and raising it from the said receptacle, of a yielding frame adjacent to said receptacle, and jarring devices with which said frame is operatively engaged by a Weight or load on the'frame.

10. In a coating-machine, the combination With the receptacle in which the coating substance is contained, of a driving-shaft, a counter-shaft, gearing for said shafts, a clutch whereby said gearing may be made fast or loose on one of said shafts, a reciprocating cross-head provided with means for supporting a dipping-tray, a Wheel, a shaft therefor, a connection between said wheel and the crosshead, and means whereby the said clutch is actuated at predetermined intervals during the rotation of said Wheel.

11. In a coating-machine, the combination With the receptacle for the coating composition, of a jarring-frame adjacent thereto, provided with pivoted supports for the tray.

12. In a coating-machine, the combination with the receptacle for the coating composition, of a yielding frame adjacent thereto, provided with pivoted supports for the tray, and jarring devices with which said frame is operatively engaged by a Weight or load on the frame.

13. In a coating-machine, the combination with the liquid-containing tank, the dippingtray support, means for-lowering it into and raising it from said receptacle, the screen arranged above said support, and means Whereby said screen is applied to and removed from the tray at predetermined intervals, of heating pipes supported above said screen.

14:. In a coating-machine, the combination with the liquid-containing tank, the dippingtray support, means for lowering it into and raising it from said receptacle, the screen arranged above said support, and means Whereby said screen is applied to and removed from the tray at predetermined intervals, of heating-pipes supported above said screen, and a sheet of asbestos, or the like, imposed on said pipes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed mysignature this 27th dayof June, A. D. 1899. 7

WILLIAM H. WEEKS. WVitnesses:

ANDREW V. GROUPE, JOHN R. NOLAN. 

